METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTONIC DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERSION

Abstract

A method and apparatus for receiving a digital signal having a plurality of significant bits of resolution. The apparatus includes a mode locked laser comprising a single output. The apparatus also includes a beam divider operable to receive the single output. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical modulators operable to communicate with said beam divider and operable to receive a respective plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of significant bits of resolution. Optionally, the apparatus also includes a source operable to output a digital waveform with the plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital waveform, the plurality of signals operable to drive the plurality of optical modulators.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another apparatus embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another apparatus embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph of illustrative digital inputs and optical outputs of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph of an optical output processed by a filter according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus receiving a digital signal having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising: a mode locked laser comprising a single output;a beam divider operable to receive the single output;a plurality of optical modulators operable to communicate with said beam divider and operable to receive a respective plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of significant bits of resolution.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a source operable to output a digital waveform with the plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital waveform, the plurality of signals operable to drive said plurality of optical modulators.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a beam combiner operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a photodetector operable to communicate with said beam combiner; anda low pass filter operable to communicate with said photodetector.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a band pass filter operable to communicate with said beam combiner; ana photodetector operable to communicate with said band pass filter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of photodetectors operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators;a combiner operable to communicate with the plurality of photodetectors; anda low pass filter operable to communicate with said combiner.

7. An apparatus receiving a digital signal having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising: a plurality of optical modulators;a digital waveform source operable to output a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of significant bits of resolution, the plurality of signals operable to drive said plurality of optical modulators; andat least one a wavelength division multiplexer beam combiner, a polarization division multiplexer beam combiner, and a time division beam combiner operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a pulsed laser; anda beam divider operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators and with said pulsed laser.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a pulsed laser with a plurality of outputs operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of pulsed lasers operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a photodetector operable to communicate with said beam combiner; anda low pass filter operable to communicate with said photodetector.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a band pass filter operable to communicate with said beam combiner; anda photodetector operable to communicate with said band pass filer.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of photodetectors operable to communicate with said at least one of a wavelength division multiplexer beam combiner, a polarization division multiplexer beam combiner, and a time division multiplexer beam combiner; anda low pass filter operable to communicate with said at least one of a wavelength division multiplexer beam combiner, a polarization division multiplexer beam combiner, and a time division multiplexer beam combiner.

21. An apparatus receiving a digital signal having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising: a plurality of optical modulators;a digital waveform source operable to output a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of significant bits of resolution, the plurality of signals operable to drive said plurality of optical modulators; anda plurality of photodetectors operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators.

22. A method comprising: dividing a laser beam into a plurality of laser beams;receiving the plurality of laser beams with a respective plurality of optical modulators;receiving a respective plurality of signals with the respective plurality of optical modulators;modulating the plurality of laser beams responsive to the plurality of signals; andcombining the modulated plurality of laser beams to form an output signal.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising: providing a source operable to output a digital waveform with the plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital waveform, the plurality of signals operable to drive the plurality of optical modulators.